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Wednesday, Mar. 14 7:30pm ET
Garrity leads the way with big fourth quarter for Magic

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

CLEVELAND (AP) -- While Tracy McGrady was back in his hotel ordering room service, watching television or taking a nap, the Orlando Magic showed they can fight for themselves.

Cory Alexander
Orlando's Cory Alexander (2) drives past Cleveland's Wesley Person as the Magic posted a 97-87 victory.

Pat Garrity scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night and the Magic survived without their suspended leading scorer in a 97-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Garrity made four 3-pointers and finished 7-for-10 from the floor in 19 minutes for the Magic, who learned two hours before tipoff that McGrady had been suspended two games for fighting.

"He's carried us plenty of times so I hope he got some rest," Garrity said of McGrady, who couldn't even watch his teammates as the game wasn't televised locally. "We need him back."

McGrady learned of his suspension just as the Magic were preparing to leave for Gund Arena. Orlando's star was suspended and fined $10,000 by the NBA for hitting Sacramento's Bobby Jackson in the face with a ball and wrestling with the Kings guard during an overtime defeat Tuesday night.

But although they were without McGrady's 27 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 rebounds a game, the Magic were able to handle the pathetic Cavs, who have lost nine of 10, 21 of 24 and were booed off the floor at the final horn.

"It was a matter of everybody stepping up," said Garrity. "We knew that it was going to be tough without him, but we wanted to show we're winners and winners play through the tough times."

Mike Miller scored 18 points -- none in the fourth -- and Darrell Armstrong had 15 and eight assists in three quarters for the Magic, who after playing at home Tuesday night didn't arrive in Cleveland until 4 a.m.

"I asked them right before the game, 'Who's going to step up?"' said Magic coach Doc Rivers. "And everybody said, 'We're all going to step up.' That's exactly what it was, a team win."

Garrity, one of the NBA's top 3-point shooters, closed the third quarter with a long jumper from the corner and then opened the fourth with his first 3-pointer to put the Magic up 75-67.

He hit his second 3 from the top of the key just as the 24-shot clock expired to give Orlando an 80-71 lead with 9:09 remaining, and then hit a running, off-balance one-hander from the baseline as the Magic went ahead 84-75 with 7:33 to play.

"It was a matter of hitting that first one, I guess," Garrity said. "It was just one of those nights for me."

Garrity scored 12 of Orlando's 14 points in one stretch, and each of his baskets brought many of the players off Orlando's bench.

Armstrong was the head cheerleader in the fourth and didn't have to play a minute as Orlando's reserves were able to open a comfortable lead and put the Cavs away.

"We're supposed to be a better second unit and tonight we weren't," Cleveland's Chris Gatling said. "McGrady is a special player but tonight we didn't stop the guys who aren't supposed to kill us."

Matt Harpring scored 19 points, Chris Mihm 15 and Jim Jackson 11 for Cleveland, which is 8-34 since opening the season 15-7.

Cavs point guard Andre Miller had just four points on 1-for-7 shooting as Orlando's backcourt of Armstrong and Miller outscored Cleveland's starting guards, Miller and Wesley Person, 33-14.

"I thought they all stepped up," Cavs coach Randy Wittman said. "Miller in the first half, Garrity in the second. We were a step behind all night defensively."

Game notes
Wittman said Miller was tired and might have a sore hip. ... Rivers said the NBA should consider changing its system for fining players. Because he makes more money, McGrady will lose nearly $213,000 in salary compared to Jackson's $25,000. "They ought to make the amount of the fine the same," Rivers said. ... Wittman said the league makes it difficult to formulate a game plan when it announces fines and suspensions so late in the day. "They always wait until 5-5:30 to do it and it doesn't make any sense for everybody involved." ... Orlando is 3-0 vs. Cleveland this season. ... During one sequence in the fourth quarter, Rivers, a former NBA guard, told referee Tom Washington he didn't have to call things so closely. "When I played," Rivers yelled, "if a guy put his hand on your chest, you could bite it."

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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Orlando Clubhouse

Cleveland Clubhouse

McGrady hit with two-game suspension by NBA

Jackson says McGrady got carried away


RECAPS
Washington 103
Detroit 96

Charlotte 100
Vancouver 95

Orlando 97
Cleveland 87

Miami 114
Sacramento 104

San Antonio 106
Minnesota 100

Philadelphia 85
Chicago 67

Denver 95
Indiana 83

Phoenix 84
Portland 79

Utah 102
Golden State 83


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